GAME NOTES: Intrastate rivals will square off at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday night, as the Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Creighton Bluejays in non- conference action.

Creighton surged into the Top-25 following an outstanding 5-0 start, which was highlighted by a 65-63 win over nationally-ranked Oklahoma on Nov. 19. Since that fast start however, the Bluejays have dropped two of their last three games, most recently losing their first true road game of the season at Tulsa on Wednesday, 77-64.

Nebraska was also among the likes of the nationally ranked early in the season before getting bounced from the polls following a 66-62 overtime loss at Rhode Island on Nov. 22. The Cornhuskers have since soared to 6-1 following three straight wins, including a 70-65 triumph at Florida State as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Dec. 1

These programs have played each other tight over the years, with Nebraska holding to a 25-22 series lead. The Bluejays got the best of the Cornhuskers in Lincoln last December, 82-67.

The Bluejays put up a poor effort on the road last time out, as they fell behind by eight at intermission and could never recover. It was an unusually cold-shooting night for the Bluejays, who shot just 38 percent from the field (including 6-of-20 from 3-point range) and they only kept the game relatively close thanks to a solid 20-of-27 showing at the foul line. Austin Chatman was stellar despite the loss, tallying 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Toby Hegner and Devin Brooks added 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Although Creighton is usually a much better scoring squad than it showed earlier in the week, its .434 field goal percentage and 72.8 ppg are well below the type of numbers it has put up in the recent past, although it has still been plenty to support a strong scoring defense (62.9 ppg). Isaiah Zierden (12.5 ppg) and Chatman (11.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.6 apg) are the only players who score in double figures, but six others net at least 5.0 ppg.

The Cornhuskers came out of the gate firing against FSU by opening up a lead as big as 18 early in the second half. Although they saw that advantage dwindle down the stretch they held on for the five-point win. Despite shooting just 41.4 percent from the field, they knocked down 7-of-19 from 3-point range while holding FSU to just 2-of-18 from beyond the arc. Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields were the catalysts in the victory with 25 and 21 points, respectively. Shields also grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.

On the season, Nebraska has impressed on both ends of the floor, shooting field goals 46.3 percent efficiency for 74.8 ppg while allowing just 63.2 ppg on 38.1 percent shooting. Petteway (21.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Shields (20.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg) comprise one of the nation's best scoring duos. Shields has been especially outstanding, shooting 60.6 percent from the field and 86.8 percent at the free-throw line.The Cornhuskers are reliant on those two, as no one else puts up more than 6.8 ppg.

Creighton is clearly not as dynamic this season and proved against Tulsa that it is vulnerable on the road. Nebraska's looked great early in the year and will likely give its home crowd plenty to cheer about.